Tai Chi Running

[Kate]

A visitor to my next door neighbour asked me this past week whether I had ever heard of "Tai Chi Running".  She had watched an interview about it on a morning talk show and although she couldn't remember all the details, she did say she found it very interesting.

I looked it up on the internet and remembered to ask my RMT about it yesterday as she was massaging out both old and new tears in my hip and leg muscles.  She had never heard of it, but she too found it interesting and she was going to look it up and pass it along to a patient of hers who regularly runs marathons.  She thought he'd like the idea as well. 

So I thought maybe some of you would find it interesting / beneficial too.  Here's the link!

http://www.runtheplanet.com/trainingracing/training/alternative/taichi.asp

[Sandy]

It's Chi Running and yes there is a lot of validity to it.  They espouse the same principles as Pose Running as well as many others who believe in mid to forefoot running and staying injury free.  I did a clinic in Toronto on it a couple of years ago and found that it was easy to follow from the book although some may need the video if they are more "watch to learn" than "do by learning".  I recommend it.

[Kate]

I sent a fellow runner/friend of mine (she is not a member/reader here yet) the same link today and she said she tried it tonight when she was running.  She is fairly new at re-introducing herself to the sport, but she said that she thought tightening her core and leaning slightly forward gave her more energy.  She also commented on the fact that she couldn't figure out the "relax your legs" part.

Personally, I will need to read the article a few times before I can figure it out.  My RMT did suggest though, that Tai Chi or anything that strengthens the body's core, is tremendously beneficial to any runner.

[The Moose1]

Bought the book.  Not a believer here.  Worth a try though.